I read a great article in the recent issue of Money magazine titled “The Rise of Freelance Nation”.  The author’s premise is that in the new economy coming after our current recession, the flexibility of temporary workers, contract employees and freelancers will be what most companies and workers will be seeking.  Currently about 30% of the workforce makes up this group and 10 years from now that number should jump to 40% says the article.

I see this trend as a positive for all concerned if we can break out of the old mindset of traditional careers with traditional employers.  All companies have the need for talent.  All employees have talent to offer.  The day is coming when employees will have greater opportunities to create their own best employment opportunity if they can do a good job marketing themselves and their skills.  They will either have to act as their own “agent” or use the services of a staffing company or recruiter as an “agent”.

There is great concern that traditional employee sponsored health care will be a thing of the past.  We’ve already seen the market respond to the old notion of “employee retirement pensions” with the portable 401k.   We are more and more becoming a community of free agents or hired guns.  There is a new age coming for employers and employees, how will you make the best of it?